Weather warnings

Confidence

High confidence cold, showery conditions developing into Tuesday. Now greater confidence for somewhat milder conditions to push east later in the week, but rather Low confidence for eastwards extend of milder air later Wednesday and during Thursday and speed of transition to milder air.

Monday 21 January 2019

Sunset: 16:29

Moon phase: Full

Patchy rain and summit snow becoming more persistent and heavier. Winds increasing, reaching gale force over the summits with blizzard conditions at height. Snow level lowering, falling down to 300m before clearing late evening.

Tuesday 22 January 2019

Weather hazards

Blizzards Medium likelihood

Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.

Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.

Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.

Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.

Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.

Feels like temperature

Freezing level

00:00

03:00

06:00

09:00

12:00

15:00

18:00

21:00

Freezing level i

400 m

400 m

300 m

200 m

200 m

300 m

200 m

200 m

Sunrise: 08:08

Sunset: 16:31

Moon phase: Waning gibbous

Weather

Heavy snow clearing in early hours then clear spells and scattered snow showers overnight, with some heavy showers and snow down to low levels at times. Bright or sunny spells on Tuesday with scattered snow showers, but more frequent showers in the afternoon. Most showers of snow above 200m and to lower levels at times with heavier showers. Blizzard conditions at times and perhaps some thunder and lightning, especially across more western aspects. Some fresh accumulations of snow, with most paths icy.

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m

Between 40 and 60% with occasional broken cloud down to 400 or 500m, best chance in the east.

Visibility

Good or very good, but poor in showers and almost nil with whiteout conditions

Meteorologist's view

Rather windy and winds will likely be stronger and very gusty at times, especially near heavier showers and this will bring a severe wind chill. Difficult, possibly hazardous conditions at height.

Recent rainfall

Location: Cat & Fiddle (Midway between Buxton and Macclesfield)

Altitude: 511m

Measurement date: 15:00 on Mon 21 Jan 2019

Last 24 hours: 1.8mm

Last 48 hours: 4.4mm

Last 72 hours: 4.6mm

Rainfall data provided by
the Environment Agency.
The Met Office is not responsible for content provided by third parties and may remove this data without warning.

Wednesday 23 January 2019

Sunrise: 08:07

Sunset: 16:33

Moon phase: Waning gibbous

Weather

A few clear spells overnight but with further heavy snow showers. Bright or sunny spells on Wednesday with snow showers tending to die away in the morning, so better spells of sunshine in the afternoon, though cloud increasing later. Blizzard conditions at height with showers and a severe chill.

Maximum wind speed expected

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m

40%, with broken cloud down to 400m in showers becoming 80 or 90% through the morning.

Temperature

At 600m Minus 5 Celsius

Valley Minus 1 Celsius rising to plus 2 Celsius

Freezing level 100m

Visibility

Mainly good or very good, but poor or very poor in showers

Thursday 24 January 2019

Sunrise: 08:06

Sunset: 16:34

Moon phase: Waning gibbous

Some uncertainty but risk of snow showers returning overnight, though dying out in the morning with cloud increasing from the west. Thicker cloud in evening will bring patchy snow, though falling as rain on lower slopes. Light northwest winds, but fresher westerly winds later. Freezing level rising to 500m later.

Friday 25 January 2019

Sunrise: 08:04

Sunset: 16:36

Moon phase: Waning gibbous

Snow over the tops in the early hours, then murky with rain or drizzle and a good deal of hill fog, but perhaps a little brightness in the east in the afternoon. Fresh west to southwest winds, but gales over the tops later. Freezing level rising above summits.

Saturday 26 January 2019

Sunrise: 08:03

Sunset: 16:38

Moon phase: Third quarter

Damp start with patchy rain or drizzle and extensive hill fog. Heavy and persistent rain will arrive from the west mid-morning. A drier and perhaps brighter spell in the afternoon as gale force west or southwest winds turn northwest for a time, but further heavy rain in the evening,

The Peak District is home to a wide variety of magnificent hills, moors, outcrops and gritstone edges.

The National Park itself covers an area of 555 square miles with a high point on Kinder Scout of 636 metres. Despite its name, the landscape generally lacks sharp peaks, being characterised by rounded hills and gritstone escarpments.

Despite what its name may suggest, the Peak District is similar in geography to the more gentle Yorkshire Dales. Its highest point is Kinder Scout, although Bleaklow Head (610 metres) and Black Hill (582 metres) offer great alternatives while losing little in terms of total elevation. Black Hill is a point of interest with its covering of peat and lack of vegetation giving the peak its name. However, conservation work has since transformed the peak so that large areas of the bare peat are now covered with native shrubs.

While the Peak District may lack sharp elevations, the whole area covers huge upland stretches, meaning that much of the National Park is on land that's more than 300 metres above sea level.

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